Page 8 of Bad Influence
‘Did you have to travel far today, Amber?’
‘Oh no,’ I said, his gentle tone putting me at ease, my breathing steadier. ‘I live in London, just a Tube ride away.’
‘Born in the sound of the Bow Bells?’ he asked, doing a bad imitation of a Cockney accent.
‘Good knowledge.’ I smiled. ‘But no, I’m a North Londoner, born and bred in this city though.’
That piqued his interest. ‘Very rare. I haven’t met many true Londoners,’ he said. ‘Mandy’s just finishing up in the “spa”.’ He made air quotes and I followed his gaze to a closed door across the other side of the hallway.
Spa in their room? This really is another world.
‘Take a seat.’ He pointed to a cream armchair positioned smartly beside another. As I sank into it, he chose to perch on the edge of the sofa on the other side of the glass coffee table. As he moved, I got another strong whiff of his fresh, musky scent. There was something weird about being alone in a hotel suite with a man I barely knew. With my back to the windows now, I busied myself looking at the artefacts on the shelves around the fake fireplace – mostly big design books, a vase stuffed with white roses, and some gold shell ornaments, gleaming in an unsentimental, luxury-hotel way.
‘Would you like a drink – water, juice, Nespresso?’
He wasn’t an unattractive man; justverygroomed. If Rob was here, he would have smirked at the way Jose referred to Nespresso as though it were a type of drink, like tea.
‘I’m good, thanks.’ I reached for my reusable water bottle and pulled it out of my bag. ‘Got some water.’
It occurred to me that it was unusual to have such an intimate meeting with a big celebrity – most superstars come with a gaggle of assistants, but there was no entourage present.
Perhaps the fact it appears to be just the two of them is encouraging?
A couple of long minutes passed. My mouth became dry, so I took a gulp of water and my throat gurgled as I swallowed.
Jose smiled, letting me know he heard. I felt my cheeks redden. If Vicky had been here she would have giggled too, but the uncomfortable silence made me nervous.
‘Are you sure I can’t get you a Nespresso?’ he asked, maybe looking for a reason to do something. ‘Or a tea? I know you Britsloveyour tea?’
Massive stereotype there, Jose.
I grinned innocuously: ‘Thanks, but I’ve had my coffee for today.’
Before we were plunged back into silence, the door handle across the hallway turned and we both jumped, like guardsmen, to our feet.
Encased in a fluffy white robe and hotel slippers decorated with a large gold C, Mandy, at first glance, looked more like a regular spa customer than an international megastar, but when she lifted her arm to shake my hand, the gigantic pink diamond on her ring-finger told a different story. Her nails, immaculately painted with a pale, iridescent polish, made it look as though she had ten oval-shaped pearls at the end of her digits.
Her chestnut hair was scraped back off her face in a ponytail and she was barely wearing any make-up, except for false eyelashes, which were long and thick. Her olive skin had the fresh glow that only an expensive facial can give.She is as spellbinding as she is in photos.
‘Excuse the gown, I didn’t have time to change,’ she commented, extending her hand. ‘You must be Amber.’
We shook and her hand felt warm and soft. It seemed oddly formal given the informality of her clothing. ‘I figureyou’rethe woman to tell me what to wear today.’ Her voice carried a lilting flow that was both soft and friendly, yet there was an edge to it.
‘That’s right.’ I smiled nervously, unsure whether she was joking or not.
‘Did Jose offer you a drink?’ She gestured to him, perched on the sofa arm again.
‘No, I mean, yes, but I’m okay.’ I sensed Jose was going to be in trouble if he hadn’t.
‘You don’t like champagne?’ she enquired.
It’s only ten o’clock.
‘You’re hesitating,’ she quipped. ‘That means, we shouldall have champagne. The rosé, Jose, please. I always fancy a glass after a massage, it seems to get into my system quicker – you know?’
‘Yes,’ I replied, instantly feeling a little silly for saying so, when it was absolutelynotsomething I could relate to.If Vicky could see me now.
I wondered if she was testing me. ‘Thank you, but I don’t drink while I’m working.’
